The AJHL all-star team fell 3-0 to Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in the final of the Junior Club World Cup in Sochi Russia this past weekend. The silver medal gives the Canadian Junior Hockey League medals in back-to-back years.jpg, SB

Team Alberta Junior Hockey League came within one win of being crowned the best junior club in the world.

The team fell 3-0 to Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in the gold medal game at the Junior Club World Cup in Sochi, Russia. Spruce Grove Saints’ forwards Jordan Biro, Cam Mitchell, and goaltender Matthew Davis played a big part in getting the club to the final.

“The pace of play was high and I’m sure they learned a lot about playing at the international level and where their game needs to be to take the next step. We’re thrilled they had such a good experience,” said Saints head coach Bram Stephen.

AJHL representative Charla Flett said Davis was solid in the team AJHL net. Davis was the starter, playing four out of five games and posting a 2.78 goals against average against some of the toughest competition in the world.

Eight of the players on the Yarolslavl roster have been drafted by National Hockey League teams.

This marks the second straight year a team representing the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Hockey Canada has earned a medal at the international tournament. Yaroslovl, who are the defending Russian Jr. League champions, repeated as champions with the victory and claim their third JCWC title in four years.

AJHL zebras answer call of the wild

A pair of referees are heading from the AJHL to the big leagues.

Linesman Julien Fournier and Travis Toomey have been added to the NHL’s officiating roster for the upcoming season. Toomey, 29, is from Leduc, and spent time with the Saskatoon Blades and Seattle Thunderbirds, picking up 121 points and 451 penalty minutes in 269 games before moving on to play for the University of Alberta.

The transition to referee is not one other officials might have expected after getting well acquainted with him during his playing days.

“I don’t think that I was a favourite among officials,” Toomey told the AJHL in a release “If you look at my penalty minutes from my Golden Bears days, I’m not sure there are many guys that had more penalty minutes than I did.”

Toomey started officiating in 2017 and manned the lines in the AJHL throughout last season including the National Junior A Championship Final. He attended the NHL officiating Combine in Buffalo last summer.

Change in the air in Calgary

The Calgary Canucks are the only AJHL show in town with the announcement that the Calgary Mustangs were ceasing operations for the season.

Last year the Canucks were not great, to put it mildly, on the ice, and their brand struggled as a result. They weren’t about to take that lying down.

The team has called Calgary home since 1971, and they were determined to bounce back in the 2019-20 season.

They revealed a new logo and visual identity for the franchise over the summer. A determined Bull donning a jersey with the previous logo sits on top of graphic lettering spelling out the team’s name.

The logo is the result of an international design search that identified brand elements that specifically tied to Calgary, the Canucks, and hockey. More than 150 designs were submitted by over 50 designers.

“Our new logo incorporates the origins of the team, while providing a character and personality for the franchise,” said Andrea Iervella, vice-president marketing and promotions. “The bull symbolizes strength and stamina, and purposefully ties in to the rich cattle and Stampede history of Calgary and area. We will continue to adorn the blue, green and white but with a deeper blue and more vibrant green.”

The team also released a set of secondary logos that will be used for various purposes ranging from patches, merchandise, and other promotional materials. One of the secondary logos prominently includes the Calgary Tower and reinforces the team’s commitment to the city.

All of that is really cool, but it isn’t going to mean much if they post another 9-49-2 record.

They know that, and they have been making moves to improve their roster. Most recently, they picked up Cole Svenson from the Lloydminster Bobcats. A 2001 born player who spent last season with the Calgary Royals of the Alberta Midget Hockey League where he picked up 19 goals and 13 assists for 32 points in 47 games.

“Cole brings a dependable two way game to us,” noted Head Coach and general manager Brad Moran, “he adds some grit to our lineup and opposing teams will know when he is on the ice.”

Calgary opens the season on Sept. 13 against the Okotoks Oilers. Will it be another long season for the Canucks? or can they prove if you mess with the bulls, you get the horns?